Alakai Swamp Trail

Leading across the Alakai Swamp in Koke`e State Park, this trail offers glimpses of native plants and bird watching as it passes through rain forest and bogs on its way to Kilohana. When the weather is just right, the views from this vantage overlooking the Wainiha Pali are amazing. No water. No facilities.

Things To Bring

Water

Sun Protection

First Aid

Appropriate Footwear

Cool Because

It offers an unparalleled view of the island at the lookout when weather allows.

Topography

Partial dirt trail and partial boardwalk through bogs and native rain forest leading to edge of the Na Pali's Kilohana vista.

Not Good For

Those that do not have strong endurance and are not in good physical condition.

Hazards

Wet, slippery and very muddy trail. Be prepared for rain or sun. Stay hydrated.

Kauai Trail Navigator

Hiking Info

Preservation

The Explorer's Guide to Kauai answers all the frequently asked questions from the discussions on this website, including the questions you didn't know to ask. Plus, there's detailed Kauai vacation maps and neighborhood info...Show me!

My first memory of hiking this trail was way back when I was in Hanalei elementary school. We took a field trip up to Kokee with Mr. Nitas 6th grade class.

All of us (the students) were sliding through the mud puddles and having a blast. When we got to the end of the trail, the view was absolutely amazing.

I still enjoy this hike. It is long, but something that a child can do. And the outlook at the end of the trail is worth every step on the way there.

Jessica Dofflemyer

Jun 10, 2007 7:25AM

I just wanted to add that not everyone gets the awesome view the last two comments referred to. All I've ever seen has been thick clouds at the end of the trail. The hike is still amazing, but anyone going on the trek should know that if you get the view it's a gift, not a given.

Barbie Taylor

Jun 18, 2007 10:30AM

This is a fabulous hike, although, I am not sure why it states only 3.5 miles. Round trip from the Kalalau lookout it is about 10 miles. There is a one mile fairly boring walk down the paved road to the Pu\'u o Kila lookout (since the road is closed), two miles on the Pihea trail and two miles on the Alakai swamp trail to the Kilohana lookout: total 5 miles there and 5 miles back. If you have 4WD you can take the rough 4WD Mohihi Road to the Alakai Swamp Trail by Sugi Grove campground, which makes a 6.4 mile round trip hike or take Mohihi a little further to the southern end of the Pihea trail, connecting to the Alakai Swamp Trail, making a 7.5 mile round trip hike.

A rain poncho is recommended as it can be rainy in the forest and misty on the uppper Alakai Swamp Trail. The boardwarks are really fun and the walk on the upper Alakai Swamp Trail to the lookout is worth the extra distance. After the Pihea Trail intersects the Alakai Swamp Trail, there is an amazing staircase in the forest down to a stream.

Take lots of water, snacks and have fun!

Kauai Explorer Staff

Jun 18, 2007 10:49PM

Good post Barbie - and you are right that accessing from the Kalalau lookout side is a much longer hike. About 10 miles from there round trip while from the official Mohihi road trail head it is marked 3.5 miles each way. We just launched this trail section and will be tuning up the content - posts from hikers like you really add to the site. Mahalo!

Tim and Diana Moore

Jul 03, 2007 4:53PM

My wife and I hiked the Alakai Swamp Trail on 6/30 and enjoyed the beautiful, cloudless view of Hanalei Bay. We hiked it via the Pihea Trail. The only thing better than this hike would've been an extension of the trail down the cliffs to Haena!

we are currently in kauai with our 2 year old daughter. we brought a kelty backpack carrier for her. we are in relatively good shape but have not yet hiked with her in a pack. would you recommend this hike for us with her or is there an easier trail you might recommend for us to try out first?

Brett

Apr 27, 2008 1:30AM

I hiked this about one month ago on a day that was moslty sunny at the top of Kokee. The swamp trail boardwalk was still holding up nicely adn was indeed a great addition to the trail. The songbirds along the way were amazing, and one in particular would have been a most welcome sound while one falls asleep at night. Going in I did not appreciate the trail due to its apparently flat and unchanging landscape, but the Kolihana vista at the end is worth every mile of the hike in. Fortunately I arrived when I did because about twenty minutes later a cloud settled in the valley, obliterating the view. I felt bad because a couple had just arrived to the spot! The hike back out was different. I finally noticed the fluctuating fog hovering over the swamp, and noticed more flora. Of course, the birds sang my way back out. I had planned on trail running back out, but I decided to enjoy the hike. I even stopped at the one stream and cooled my feet in the water. Nice hike.

Burt

May 11, 2008 9:02PM

Hello,
I am planning to do the out and back hike to the Pihea Overlook conecting with the Alakai Swamp trail to the Kilohana overlook when I am in Kauai (about 2wks from now). Any one have any idea of the elevation change an how long to plan on for this hike?

Aloha Burt. Definitely give yourself the day to enjoy this strenuous and incredible hike. As far as elevation change specifics, you may want to tune in with the Kokee Museum, which offers detailed hiking maps and can answer more questions about the area of Kokee. http://kokee.org/ Enjoy! J

Julie

May 18, 2008 4:09PM

Burt, my sister and I did the exact same hike you just talked about-Pihea to Alakai swamp to Kilonha outlook and back again. It was AMAZING! Not to bad for elevation changes, lots of steps on the boardwalk in some parts. Be prepared for some mud and long leg stretches on the Pihea part, especially if it's raining. It took us most of the day, but we took a long time looking, pausing, resting and so forth. We only caught a glimsp of Kilonhana overlook, it was clouded in. But it was such an amazing hike, it really didn't matter that we didn't see the outlook and we weren't disapppointed. We are both coming back this summer and this is one of our favorite day hikes, we'll be on the trail again in June/July. We are also doing a 6 day/5 night trek into Kalalau, with permits, of course.

Roland

Jun 03, 2008 2:07PM

We are going to try and a hike next Monday in the Waimea Canyon or Kokee St. Park area. We have a snorkel cruise out of Hanapepe that afternoon at 2:00. What trail would you recommend to do with our time issues. We are in good shape and can get an early start.

Hi Roland. Kokee is so magnificent, you don't really want to be rushing through a hike. Honestly, I'd recommend giving Kokee your whole day. All of the trails we've highlighted on the site in Kokee are all day excursions.
You may want to check out the Berry Flats Trail - maps are at the Kokee Museum. It's a fairly short loop that could take a few hours, roundtrip. Also take into account the drive to Kokee in your schedule. It's about 30 minutes from Waimea.
Enjoy! J

Mike

Jul 23, 2008 1:23AM

I was wondering if you could help me. My wife and I were in Kauai 15 years ago. We are returning this week with our 14 year old daughter. Over the years we have told many friends about a wonderful hike we had on our last trip. We started out in the forest where it was raining and hiked from the wet side of a mountain over to the dry side. The dry side had cactus and of course a wonderful view of the canyon at the end. It was so amazing to hike through a wet forest and end up in desert conditions all in a short hike. A truly awesome experience. I wonder if you could tell me if it was this trail or not. We would love to share that same experience with our daughter. Thanks.

Hi Mike. Based on your description, I'm not quite sure which trail your referring to. You may want to contact the Kokee Museum with your question. They have maps for trails available in their gift shop and their website lists them as well.
http://kokee.org/hiking.html
Enjoy! J

Brigitte Borngaesser

Aug 18, 2008 10:30PM

Hi,
I have read somewhere that one should wear old shoes that can be thrown away afterwards. Is this true? Will the shoes get very muddy, and is the mud difficult to remove?
We usually hike in good hiking boots - would it be unadviseable to wear those on the Alakai Swamp Trail? Might there be situations where the mud could get in the boots?

Thanks for your answer!
Brigitte

Ivan Sultan

Aug 18, 2008 10:53PM

First off I would like to say how much I appreciate the information you post here. I find it very helpful. Keep up the good work.
My 11 yr old son and I did this hike on Saturday morning. It was spectacular. I am in moderately good shape and had not trouble with the hike at all. We did not get a clear view at the overlook, but I did not feel that was really important after enjoying the flora and fauna during the hike. I used a GPS and clocked the distance at 6.6 miles, which we did in 3 hrs and 13 minutes with photo stops and a 10 minute snack break at the overlook. The only part that was remotely difficult was the "stairway to heaven" (so dubbed by my son). Aloha and Mahalo for your effort here.

Aloha Brigitte. The Explorer team definitely advocates the 3R's, so we would not advise throwing shoes away at the end of a hike unless they were completely unusable. You can expect to encounter mud on many Kauai trails, especially on this hike. There are long stretches where a boardwalk has been placed on top of the earth, in order to keep hikers from sinking in the mud. If it's pouring rain during your hike, you may get more muddy than on a sunny day. Prepare to get a little dirty but your hikers should be fine. After you hike it, feel free to let the users of the forum know about how it went.
Enjoy! J

Hi Tim - I have only hiked to Mohihi-Waialae via the Kukui trail then up "Red Hill." I would rate the hike as "strenuous" (harder than Kalalau). We spent the night at the Mohihi-Waialae camp. Next day we hiked into the swamp area looking for the Camp 10 link-up but could not find it - so back out in reverse. Beautiful terrain. Mostly unmarked. Tough stuff! W

tim

Dec 31, 2008 9:00PM

Mohihi- Waialae I want to fish the river down there is there a better way to do this than the camp 10 trail or is there another good spot for this kind of hike. day trip great fishing,we love wildlife and photo's an out of the way place would be great. we are from seattle and do some tough hike out here. but we don't want to get lost safety first.
Thanks for the advice.

Hi Tim - Camp 10 is the shortest way to Mohihi-Waialae but my personal experience was that the trail was hard to find. Keep your expectations low in terms of trout fishing in Kokee - the filsh are all stocked and hard to catch. That said, the hiking in Kokee is awesome. W

Marci

Jan 05, 2009 4:32AM

Although this is probably obvious to many, it wasn't to my husband and me when we hiked this trail last week. Don't cross the stream/river at the bottom of the staircase (very large you won't miss it) if it is raining!! We crossed it on the way up and it was about knee deep, 10 feet wide. On the way back (about an hour later), it was chest high, 25 feet wide. Needless to say, we nearly died getting across! Although it's hard to stop before you reach the end of the trail, don't cross the stream/river if it's raining!

Bruce

Jan 19, 2009 3:45AM

We hiked the trail in full sunshine today, with the great view at the end. If you do this hike, notice the old telephone poles along the way on the last mile or so. They were the 'backup' communication system for the island put up during WW II. However, we didn't see any of the old road machinery referred to in the "Ultimate Guide to Kauai", bogged down in the swamp. That is a very good book to have, by the way (I am not affiliated with them in any way). My wife and I are in our mid-50's, in fair shape, and it took, us 3 1/2 hours round -trip.

Dirk

Jan 25, 2009 7:14PM

Aloha Everyone,

My wife and I have done three hikes since we have been on Kauai..Pihea Trail: muddy, slippery but very beautiful ridge trail...Kukie Trail: dry and well worn in top section, awesome views of canyon, then you enter the forest where it turns quickly into super, super muddy, overgrown grass up to head and bugs..still pretty cool but not for the faint of heart..there was dead pig stuck up in a tree and the locals told us it was put there by locals to mark territory and scarce away tourists, we would do the section down to the jungle and then turn around and the the last we did was Kalalau to the Hanakpiai beach, the trail was great, alittle mud here and there, incredible views the whole way, alot of people and the beach was all rock since it appears it is only there in summer time, but not a big issue since the hike was great, we came back and hand a bottle of wine at Kee Beach and then to The Beach House to celebrate the hike. All in all the hikes have been great and we are planning our next one for today.

Kelly

Feb 10, 2009 2:07AM

I hiked this trail Jan 31, 2009 and found it abosolutley great. The Pihea ridge part of the trail offered spectacular views in the morning but was clouded up on my return. I would suggest you take the opportunity for photos when available! The overlook was mostly clear when I arrived around noon. Watching clouds form as the air was uplifted was worth the trip in itself. Be carefull on the boardwalk as there are some broken boards. One individual stepped in what he thought would be shallow water and went in over his knee. Also expect to encounter some hunters with dogs. I only ecountered light rain for less than a 1/2 hour. Not enough for me to put on a rain coat but I did bring one along. I am 51 years old, moderatly good shape, and did not find it overly taxing. It took me around 5 hours to complete at a relaxed pace with lots of stops to take pictures and looks at plants.

Steve K

Feb 21, 2009 3:03AM

My wife and I hiked the trail February 1st, and found it in pretty good shape. Weather cooperated, and the view from Kilohana Lookout was stunning. Met hikers from Germany and Illinois there and had a nice lunch with them. Started our hike from the \'real\' Alaka\'i Swamp trailhead off Mohihi Road. A 4WD vehicle - and experience driving one - is necessary to access this trailhead. There is a nasty landslide on a fairly narrow point on the ridge just a short ways from the trailhead - hikers who are too curious risk a nasty fall. The boardwalk continues to deteriorate in spots - but how would you fare in those conditions? Hikers should watch for spots where the wire mesh has come loose and in some cases is sticking up. Easy to trip. There are also more rotten boards every year. A few of them can make for rather spectacular surprises. Try to keep one eye on the incredible landscape and one on the trail. For the young man who dubbed the staircase \"the stairway to heaven\", there are 269 steps. I\'m having trouble picturing the stream (a little tributary of Kawaikoi Stream) as the raging torrent one hiker described. I\'ve never seen it more than a pleasant trickle. All I can say is one heckuva rain must have preceded your hike - and thank heavens you made it out OK! Finally, as the Kaua\'i Explorer Staff correctly states, the mileage from the Mohihi trailhead is officially posted as 3.5 miles each way.

Bev Root

Feb 26, 2009 8:12PM

My son (24), my daughter (22) and I (52) hiked a few miles of this last week, starting from a lookout point past Kokee Park where the sign said it was 1.7 miles to the swamp trail. We never made it into the swamp from there, and neither did anybody else we encountered on the trail that day. We all turned back at the same extremely steep and slick part. From the comments posted above, there are other access points to the swamp that would have been better to use. It was misty/cloudy up there and not exactly ideal conditions. Very slippery and muddy and some steep parts that required climbing up with the aid of tree branches and roots. This would have been a lot more fun if it weren\'t so slippery and muddy, we had better hiking footwear than sneakers, and we had better visibility. I also wished I had a walking stick, it would have made things go a lot faster when climbing down the slippery round rocky parts where there was nothing to hang onto. We all got pretty muddy. Even so, it was a great experience and we are glad we went. The views on the road up were spectacular.

Gary

Feb 28, 2009 6:54AM

Me and a buddy hiked this trail circa 1970. It was fog and rain the whole time. The ground was like walking on wet sponges. One thing that I?ve never forgot is that trees that grow to 60 feet on other parts of the island only grew to about 15 feet in the swamp due to the extreme rain fall. At the trail head it was cool and cloudy. About a half a mile down the trail we ran into fog and rain, and it stayed that way for the entire day til we were about half a mile from the trail head on the return hike. I remember it being a long hike, but for a couple of 20 something year olds in extreme physical condition, the only difficult part was sinking into the sponge like ground. I haven?t thought about that hike for a long time till I saw this page today.

Julie

Mar 01, 2009 1:12AM

I love this trail and the swamp! I've done it on 3 different occasions, and each time the Kilohana lookout has been clouded in. I've sat at the lookout for a long periods of time, from 1-2 hours hoping to get a glimsp of the north shore. Any suggestions on what time of day is best for "clear" weather? Or what kind of weather conditions onisland are best suited for this hike? I'll be on Kauai in a week and would like to try this hike again, with hopes for a view at the end.

Hi Julie - clear skies and views at Kilohana are primarily driven by the prevailing weather for that day. Any day with Trade winds is usually going to have passing showers and clouds building up on the ridge line, but if there is low moisture in the Trade wind flow then there will be times when the skies are clear. Sometimes we get totally clear days with variable winds and mornings are best (because afternoon land heading brings convective clouds). The view is incredible. W

Steve O`C

Apr 26, 2009 1:56AM

Itinerary question...

We are lucky enough to have 3 days on Oahu, then 8 nights/9days on Kawaii on our 1st trip off the continental US!!

We love to hike, but my better half can?t handle sitting in the car too long with her bad back, so we want to stay in the Kokee area after we arrive, then later hit the North Shore, as we also want to snorkel,surf and kayak our hineys off.

We will do both light and some strenuous hiking (the 2 kids and I will leave Mom with the bad back on her own to relax when we do strenuous hiking).

We also want to kayak down a river, or tube down the irrigation ditches (?) that I heard about, and do not want to do this from the North Shore area, if the starting point is closer to Waimu/Kokee due to the distance.

Awa'awapuh is a must, and lengthy, so we figured after getting to our lodging in the evening, we might need the next 2 full days and next 2 nights to really enjoy the Kokee area, but every day we spend there is one day less at the North Shore.

So any advice as to whether that 3rd night should be spent? i.e., will 2 full days in this area be enough, or should we we do a 3rd night in Kokee, and then have 5 nights with 5 1/2 days in North Shore?

Sorry so picky, but it?s my 1st time out of the US, and I am 44, so I am very excited.

Lady Di

Apr 29, 2009 8:13PM

In reading the descriptions about the various trais, this one looks like one 3 women could do that's not too easy of difficult. I just have a few questions from anyone who's taken this hike: What time would you suggest starting out, are the trails normally busy with other hikers and what safety measures are in place in case of an emergency? Thanks.

Hi Lady - if you walk or jog frequently this hike will not be a problem. Aside from 1 valley the hike is essentially level. Start as early as possible, you probably will not see many hikers. As far as safety measures, basically there are none. In the unlikely event you get injured help is a long way away. W

Lori

Aug 21, 2009 1:40AM

Hi. We are taking our almost 5 year old daughter with us to Kauai next month. She went with us to Costa Rica in April and was great with the hiking. Can you recommend some trails for us that she could handle? Would appreciate it!

Hi Lori - most of the trails are doable for kids. You just have to assess her fitness and turn around if it gets tough. My favorites are Hanakapiai, Mahaulepu and Alakai Swamp.

Scott in NH

Dec 04, 2009 7:06PM

My wife and I hiked this trail in February 2008, and it was a highlight of the trip, second only to the Nualolo-Awawapuhi loop. While not as dramatic as some trails, the terrain and local ecology are fascinating; the boardwalk through the swamp is otherworldly; and the view to Hanalei and beyond, at the end of the swamp, is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. We're coming back in February 2010 - so it might be a twice-in-a-lifetime treat.

Scott

Jan 04, 2010 2:56AM

For those with a little one on your back; be in shape. Most of the hike is pretty easy but the section into the valley with a child on back can be tough. Especially if you have a kid like mine was at that age and rather liked the words "double time dad" when going up the hill. Also, there isn't many things more unique than hiking a 4000 foot swamp.

The view at the end of the hike is one of the worlds best. Hang out for awhile, eat lunch, hopefully you are dressed warm, and wait for it. It comes and goes but is worth the wait.

taho88

Jan 10, 2010 12:34AM

Hello all!
My husband and I are heading to Kauai in about two weeks on our honeymoon,and are looking for an easy-moderate day hike, that will take us to some falls or canyon look-out points. We are both in good physical shape but are NOT avid hikers, so we do not want to get ourselves in over our heads. We are staying in Hanalei Bay area for one week starting January 24th. I am also a photograpy enthusiast so would like a hike that offers great photo opps. What do you recommend?

Hi Taho - all of the trails we feature are awesome. My personal favorites are Na Pali, Alakai swamp and Mahaulepu.

Martha

Jan 31, 2010 5:38PM

We are traveling to Kauai next week and staying until March 8. We would like to hike the Alakai Swamp trail and look for native birds. We have attempted, during our previous 2 visits to get to Alakai by way of the Pihea Trail but it has been extremely muddy during February-March and by the time we have reached the Alakai trail head we have needed to turn around because it is too late in the day. (We have driven in from Hanalei) Is there a way of getting to Alakai without hiking Pihea? What are the conditions of the Mohihi road? What is it like? Is there a way of getting to the Sugi Road Campground (with a guide or group or alone) so that we can hike Alakai?

Martha - if you want to access Kilohana trail via Mohihi you'll need a 4wd. This access does shorten the hike a bit but you'll still encounter mud. My advice is to start earlier from Pihea.

Denise

Mar 22, 2010 11:52PM

Is the entire boardwalk area considered the Alakai Swamp, or only the area across the river - right before the look-out?

Thanks!

Craig

Jul 30, 2010 5:09AM

In the middle of August,I plan on hiking all the way to Kilohana starting at the end of Waimea Canyon Road (since I don't have 4WD to start off from Mohihi Rd.) I'd like to start hiking around 7am. Typically, is that a good time to start in order to have a good chance at clear weather? Is it a safe hike to do by myself. I'm a good hiker in good shape. Mahalo

I too, have done the Alakai trail a few times and never have been lucky enough to get the view and clouds to cooperate.
We will be back again in early Feb 2011, we will try again as I do enjoy the walk in from any starting position. Maybe this will be the year we get to see the view. Mahalo

CK

Oct 28, 2010 8:51PM

Just returned from a great trip to Kauai (October 2010). Wonderful dry hike, Pihea Trail to end of Alakai Swamp Trail. Clear view at the end was fantastic. However my wife got her feet tangled in loose wire on the boardwalk and took a bad spill, missed the edge of the boards with her hands and hit her head and ribs hard, was stunned and it knocked the wind out of her (heavy bruising, cuts and scrapes). This was on the way in. She\'s a tough 60+ year old and elected to finish the hike anyway (after some 1st aid and a good rest). We hike a lot and are in good shape. If you take this hike, keep a close eye on your footing! Highly recommended. I suggest an early morning start to beat the afternoon fog.

Wow CK what a trooper your wife is! The boardwalk wire mesh and rotten boards are very hazardous. The fall is not far, but on some nasty, sharp stuff. Again - I don't know why the DLNR guys cannot go an maintain things a bit more.

Kiara

Nov 04, 2010 2:50AM

Hi,

I am travelling to Kauai on my own next year (March-April) and was hoping to hike this trail. Is it safe enough to do it on my own?

Thank u!

pat

Dec 02, 2010 2:52AM

I chuckled when I read how CK\'s wife tripped on the loose wire on the boardwalk. When my husband and I (both 55+) did this hike on the last day of our vacation I tripped on the wire, resulting in 5 broken ribs (we found this out after we returned home). I tripped just as we started the 5 mile hike back from seeing the most beautiful clear view we could have ever imagined. So for those wondering how difficult this hike might be, know that I hiked out on my own, slowly. Unfortunately I was not able to enjoy the wonderful scenery on the return. The hardest part was the many steps. Was the hike worth it? Most definitely, I\'ll just be more careful if we are ever lucky enough to do this hike again.

SusanM

Jan 27, 2011 8:42PM

Thanks for a wonderful website. We will be in Kauai in just over two weeks time and look forward to exploring some of these trails. Question - what time does the fog/cloud tend to roll in? I know morning is best...but how early should we be heading out? Mahalo

Barb

Feb 08, 2011 7:43PM

I would say the trail to get to the lookout, approximately half way to the swamp, is a very difficult hike. Lots of climbing and steps. If you really want a hard workout, this trail is for you.

Jackson

Feb 09, 2011 11:47PM

How deep do the trails penetrate into the Alakai swamp? And what is the highest altitude they go?

Doug

Feb 11, 2011 12:53AM

Did the Pihea/Alakai Swamp combo on 2/2. Was the first car in the Pu\'u o Kila parking lot around 7:30am. Planned on doing a combination trail run/hike to shorten the excursion to a part-day with travel to/from Kapaa. Trail was dry, sky was clear, air was cool but still t-shirt viable, perfect morning. After a few minutes getting my gear in order I started down the hill from the lookout. It flatten in a bit and I was able to pick up the pace. Was a bit surprised by some of the periodic sections where you really had to stop and pay close attention to foot and hand holds with the steep, rutted up and downs. I skipped the Pihea lookout, deciding to catch it on the way back and soon after turning past this hit the boards and wire. Made great time with the occasional photo op, broken board section, Alakai turnoff, stream crossing and a brief period after the stream where you were working uphill on slick, shaded rock, roots, and mud. Hit the swamp and before I knew it was at the end of the trail. Watch said 8:45, so roughly and hour. View was very nice but the sun wasn\'t high enough to illuminate the valley at the time. I sat there in solitude on the bench for a half-hour enjoying the silence, the view, and called my wife back in the hotel to let her know all was well. The valley and light changed constantly as the sun rose and after some photos I was on my way back. I again moved quickly on my return but being confident in my updated knowledge of the timeframes and difficulty of the trail, took a little more time to study the swamp, plants, views, and how cool the boardwalk and wooded stairways were. I finally came across the first hikers by the stream on the way back. A couple from Chicago making nice progress. After a lot of stairs up and passing the Pihea junction there were another two couples making their way. Time flew and I was back at the Pihea Lookout turnoff and laughed at the uphill climb at the end. This was definitely not for grandma. At least my grandma. Don\'t get me wrong. plenty doable, but quite vertical with foot slots in the hillside and branches and roots for handholds. Additional be careful at the lookout or at some of the little sidepaths to closer views of the valley rim. In this area the rim is concave. If it crumbles or you slip it isn\'t about getting caught in dense brush after a harrowing 30-35ft roll and having to figure out how to climb out. It is a 300+ ft free fall. Anyway, lots of rim photos on the return of the Kalalau Valley and a satisfying return to the car. Overall time was 3 hours with about an hour of stop time at lookouts and taking photos. I have done the Kalalau trail to Hanakapiai Falls, Honopu Ridge, Kayak/Hike to Secret Falls, and now the Pihea/Alakai Swamp. Suggest them all. Happy hiking.

Excellent post braddah Doug. Not a bunch of elevation on that route but the slippery Kaua?i mud and deteriorating boardwalk makes it super tough. Thanks. Aloha. WW

Bill

Apr 15, 2011 6:34AM

I am a birder. I will spend one day at the Kilauea Lighthouse, maybe two. I was thinking about the Alakai Swamp to see some forest birds. Anywhere else? I would hate to come all this way and miss something due to ignorance. Mahalo

Neysa

Apr 20, 2011 6:12PM

My husband and I did this hike during our honeymoon in September 2006 and were treated to the beautiful "gift" at the end of the trail... we will be making our annual trip to Kauai in May, this time with our 2 year-old daughter in tow. We have a Kelty backpack that she is quite comfortable in and are wondering which hikes might be the most enjoyable with a toddler?

Neysa - most of the hikes featured here are doable with kids that are active. We just hiked Hanakapiai with a 1YO last weekend.

Robin

Aug 11, 2011 4:59AM

Hi Kauai Explorer! Larry and I have been coming to Kauai for about 10 years, renting the same wonderful cttage in Poipu. I would like to thank you for this wonderful site!We hike each year, and you have given us a few we might not have seen. Mahalo!

Kathy

Aug 27, 2011 11:44AM

Last Saturday, I hiked alakai from camp 10 road to kilohana overlook, then down kawaikoi stream loop. cloudy, rainy, misty weather compounded the unearthly feel of the swamp. I usually hike barefoot, but used vibrams on this one because of the wire covered boardwalk. epic hike!

Robb J.

Dec 25, 2011 4:16PM

I would love to hike this trail (among others) when I visit Kauai next month. I will be based in Lihue, but was hoping to avoid renting a car. Are touring bikes readily available for rent? Is the island bike friendly? Thanks!

Hello Robb - Kauai is definitely NOT bike friendly. Aside from the Kauai Path section developed on the East shore there are no bike lanes, narrow roads and lots of traffic. Many drivers are aggressive towards bikers. I speak from experience. Perhaps someday Kauai will evolve to the biker's paradise that it could be.

Hans Roeger

Mar 01, 2012 11:26AM

Four of us hike the swamp trail and enjoyed the trail very much. My comment is that we purchased the 70 page vacation guide from your website and found the maps less than satisfactory. Also could not find signs near actual trails. How are people supposed to know where to go and what trail they are on ?
This could be dangerous.

Dave

Mar 14, 2012 8:06AM

Would anyone happen to know the current conditions of the trail after all of the recent flooding? I am planning to do the hike the first week in April. Thanks!

David Hamilton

Apr 05, 2012 9:09PM

Hiked the trail on April 1, 2012. Trail was in good condition....considering you are walking on planks across a swamp. Incredible hike....which by the way....the strenuous part of the trail is more like climbing than hiking. A must do while in Kauai!

Here is Peter Hollingers photo of the view from Kilohana lookout.
http://www.pbase.com/image/54650329
Of course it must be at least a day of scattered cloud and spots of sun, and if you wait long enough, a break occurs and you see the view. The Alakai section seems to be more like 3 or 4 miles, 2 miles? no way.
Incredible view..

I am told ancient Hawaiians used to descend down the mountain just to the left of the Kilohana lookout in a shortened route to get from south to North Kauai.

Tony Smith

Jun 24, 2012 1:44AM

My wife and I hiked this trail on 16 Jun 2012. We started in the parking lot, at the lookout at Kokee Park at 6:50AM. We made it to the Kilohana lookout, in about 3 hours. The view was clear and we could see down to the Hanalei Bay, and the little island with the lighthouse. We rested, and ate lunch during our 45 minute stop. We left the Kilohana lookout at 10:45AM and arrived back at the parking lot at 1:10PM. Just over 6 hours round trip. There was a lot of climbing up hills, and up and down the wooden steps. We carried large amounts of water, and energy food. The hike was well worth it. Once on the boardwalk it was pretty much level terrain to the Kilohana lookout.

Mark Ross

Jun 30, 2012 6:43PM

I hiked this today (June 30, 2012). The way back was much harder; a light rain had made the mud very slippery.

I highly recommend leaving early. I started at7:20am. On the way back, I met quite a few people just starting the hike. The trail might have been a bit crowded.

David Burse

Jul 26, 2012 11:51AM

My wife and I did this hike yesterday (July 25). Pihea was a complete mudder from the half mile marker until you get over the ridge and down to the plank-stairs. Unfortunately, we did not get to the lookout until 5 pm, which was thick with clouds. No views for us. Walking the planks is easy enough, but the trail between the planked sections was slippery mud and slow going, including the stream crossing.

We were able to rest our muddy calves in the new brew pub in Port Allen, which is perfect for a post-hike beverage.

Peter

Feb 06, 2013 5:04PM

Some friends of mine and I will be visiting the island in May. It’ll be interesting to see how well the Alakai Swamp Boardwalk has held up after all these years. Me having known the actual builders as well as I do they are never credited with the thought, design, work, time, effort and especially how those materials were brought in.
So I give credit to The Builders, Alfred, Stafford, Dwayne, James, James, Kalani, Gerald, Ron, Sam, various ‘gangs’ of summer help kids and me. Peter. While we are at it you may also thank The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, State of Hawaii, County of Kauai

Charlotte

Jul 30, 2013 12:10PM

I will be staying in Hanalei in August, is there a way to get to the trail from there ?

Don

Aug 01, 2013 1:37PM

If you main reason for hiking the Alakai is for the views at the end of the trail, then best not to hike it at all. This precious refuge for so many rare Hawaiian plants and animals suffers from the intrusion of people. With so many other beautiful places to wander in Hawaii, why not leave this unique ecoystem to itself? The increase in visitors to this area is another example of the masses discovering every last place of quite refuge in these islands, thanks in part to the internet.

TD

Jul 02, 2015 9:42PM

Don: get over it

Michele

Jan 25, 2016 3:59AM

Take note that the description says When the weather is just right, you will see amazing views. It does not guarantee it. No one can control the weather. Be thankful that you are fortunate enough to explore and travel, bc some people will never have the opportunity, no matter the view or amount of mud.

Claire

Feb 04, 2016 5:47PM

Do you recommend doing the alakai swamp trail (from the Mohiki 10 road) over the pihea to alakai route? Other than distance, what are the advantages/disadvantages to just doing the alakai whole way? Is it any less muddy/slippery to do it that way? Hiking with a little baby so would like to know safest/easiest route possible.

Douglas Sears

Apr 18, 2016 5:33AM

We will be arriving in Kauai in the evening of May 7, 2016. We are arriving from Ohio, so I anticipate some "sluggishness", at first. Hopes are to visit & hike the canyon area the next day, Sunday 5/8/18. Is there a "best time" for enjoying the Pihea-Alakai Trail. We were "hoping" a late-morning hike.

We plan to visit Kauai in July and looking forward to hiking the Alakai Trail again. But we heard a rumor that there might be some construction to replace some of the deteriorated boardwalk. Are there any closure areas or construction on the trail that we should be aware of?

SW

Nov 25, 2016 8:07PM

Question: looking at earlier posts it sounds like the boardwalk was deteriorating and places where its mesh was sticking up. Have these issues been repaired? Thanks!

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